CLOSE friends of a young woman who died from meningitis have hit out over plans to close the A&E services at North Manchester General Hospital.

Ali Corney, 21, passed away in March after being struck down by the virus two months earlier. Now friends and relatives have spoken out in praise of the doctors who treated Ali and of their shock at the possible closure.

Ant O'Donnell, 24 - the fiance of Ali's sister, Hazel Corney, said: "The reason the closure of the accident and emergency department has touched me so much is that it's the first place that Ali was admitted, if it wasn't for the fast action of the doctors and nurses there, she wouldn't have made it to Wigan ICU.

"I'm absolutely appalled over the closure and completely against it."

Ali moved to Middleton from Bracknell just before Christmas to stay with Ant and Hazel, who live on Caldbeck Drive.

Ant said: "We were all very close. Ali was one of the greatest people I have ever known and I loved her like a sister. We had a great Christmas together.

"She also met her boyfriend, Andy Karr, just before Christmas and was really radiant and happy."

But within a fortnight of the new year celebrations, Ali collapsed and was rushed to North Manchester General Hospital. She was then transferred to Wigan intensive care where she was diagnosed with meningitis and kept under sedation.

After a couple of weeks she was found a bed at Salford Hope high dependency renal unit. Family and friends kept a bedside vigil and despite a few setbacks it seemed that Ali was on the mend.

But she was then diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia and her liver began to fail. On 29 March she passed away.

Now Ant is trying to raise awareness of the illness and raise funds for the meningitis trust as well as organising a benefit concert with his band, Chimes, in Ali's memory.

Ant said: "Ali was one of those people who would always help others. We only heard after she died that she used to give a lot to charity but never told anybody about it.

"She was always smiling and when she was down it wouldn't take her long before she was happy again."

Ant has set up a webpage on Myspace in honour of Ali which includes photographs, poetry and fond memories of the vibrant 21 year old.

The site also aims to make more people aware of meningitis and includes important information about the virus as well as details on how to make donations.

More than 1,000 people have so far logged on to the site.

Ant added: "The website has achieved what I had hoped. Many of those people might not have been aware of meningitis before seeing the site and Ali's story."